The Schoolastic Book Clubs have a very cool book in their children's order forms for "How to have a sleep over".

It is filled with goodies for the host or hostess: It Includes:

1.) Invitations and envelopes. 2.) Dirrections on how to decide the date and time. 3.) A list of party snacks to serve. 4.) A list of games to play like, A Picture In the Dark, Three legged race, Who Committed Murder. 5.) Dirrections on how every game is played. 6.) What to do when it is near bed time. Like have a tooth paste tasting contest.... more

When children are little we often do not think of how they will react to things like moving or getting new baby sitters. We know they are resilient and usually adapt to just about anything in time. However some changes do up set them and they do tend to show it in their actions.

One family of four that lives near us, has moved several times since their son was born. Their toddler didn't seem to mind much that they were moving and packing all of his toys and clothes. But their 3 year old was very up set.

As his mommy placed items into a box he would... more

Today was a special day for my daughter Angela and I. We took down the Christmas tree decorations together. We began by separating the ornaments by who they belong too.

Angela was amazed to find that she had a box of her own this year and it contained every ornament mom and dad had collected for her.

Over the years we began a collection of ornaments for each of our children. Which we gladly passed on to them as each one has grown up and gotten their own place to live.

Collecting the ornaments has been... more

Making Holiday Gift Baskets can be a fun project for the whole family. Getting the kids involved is a great way to help inspire the family to be in the Christmas spirit.

Here is a quick and aasy way to make fun gifts for neighbors and family:

Find some inexpensive containers at your local dollar store. Pick up A Christmas dish towel or any other holiday trinket that you would like to give in the basket also from the dollar store. Choose a few of the recipes from the link below for the children to create. Add a dozen of your home baked cookies. Drop in a few candy canes. ... more

Laying across my bed this evening, my daughter Angela came in and crawled up beside me. It was not long before she was sharing my pillow. Snuggling in my blanket and had her feet kicked up on top of me so I could rub her legs and feet for her.

Her long black hair smelled like grapes from the kids shampoo I had bought her. It was soft and shiny and flowing down her back. I brushed it aside when she rolled over on her tummy so I could scratch her back.

I began telling her how tiny she was as a baby. How I began rubbing her feet and legs and back when... more

Here is a really cool link to a web site that is filled with things about Christmas. From Poems, to word finds and snowman mazes.

There is a little bit of fun for everyone. http://www.share-christmas.com/kids/ Enjoy.

Knowing who your child is and what their capabilities are. Is one of the best ways to stay in tuned to what your child needs most in his or her life.

Children mature at different ages. They also grow in body weight and height at different ages. So not everyone will be capable of the same tasks at the same ages.

That is where the parents voice comes into play. If you child wants to go rock climbing but his or her body does not have enough upper body strength to maintain good safety. Then you may wish to focus on building that body strength before... more

With the hustle and bustle of making the holidays bright. We allow personal pressures to get to us easier than they would on normal home visits.

Some of the best moments in life are the ones where we sat as a family and opened Christmas gifts. Each child would take a turn and dad and I would take pictures or video the children with their gifts.

Then our time would fill with rushing around from relative to relatives homes to hand out gifts to them. Leaving us all exhausted when the day came to an end.

Christmas eve was always special... more

Recently my daughter came home with an "I Spy" book from the school library. We always read to her each evening and she in turn reads to us also.

It has been a pleasant part of growing up with her from the time she could sit up on her own. We would get her up in our laps and read to her. At that time it did not matter much what we read. Now we allow her to pick some of the reading material.

With the I Spy Book. You have to find all the missing items that are hidden in the picture. We had so much fun with it that she requested that we put that on her Santa List.

When she and I could not find an item. It was dads turn to stop what he was doing and to find... more

I some how doubt that the Pilgrims were thinking of Christmas Shopping after they had their big Harvest Meal. I also think that relaxing and watching a football game or thanksgiving day parade was their cup of tea either.

We have come along way from the true meaning of the first Harvest Thanksgiving Day Meal. Maybe it is the strive to exercise that makes people go out of their way to wake up early and tread out in the cold to hit the sales on the day after thanksgiving. Or maybe it is just the fact that they get great deals.

Whatever... more